The Highlanders' Museum - Fort George

Image No. 4 – Fragment of Colour, 72nd Highlanders.
Our picture store doesn’t just contain paintings, prints and photographs, it also contains precious items which people have chosen to have framed over the years, much as people might frame a signed football shirt today.
This small and unassuming piece of cloth is a piece of the Queen’s Colours carried by the 72nd through the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the Afghanistan and Egyptian Campaigns. A handwritten note is attached to... the reverse of the frame and reads:
“One of my most cherished possessions. Fragment of the Queen’s Colours – Queen Victoria, This colour and this Regiment once was in the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Afghanistan and Egyptian Campaign 1882. They were of the old large pattern and rather difficult to handle when uncased in a high wind. I picked this bit up one night in the mess at Parkhurt, Isle of Wight after we had been dancing. These colours were very tattered. Now in the north gallery Windsor Castle. W F ? Queen’ Victoria gave the 1st Battalion new colours in the grounds of Osbourne, Isle of Wight in 1883 or 84”
Unfortunately we are struggling to decide what the officer’s surname is and we would welcome your thoughts on what his name might have been.
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We offer a wide range of options to our visitors. Watch this space for news of new and exciting offerings.

We are currently being treated to a fine display and sounds of Pipes and Drums outside the Museum from 3 Scots @thehighlanders - 4 Scots Pipes & Drums @hldrspb @4scots The Black Watch Pipes and Drums 3SCOTS

Image No. 3 – Painting “Pat” the dog, 72nd Highlanders
Pat, the small dog was the Regimental pet to the 72nd Highlanders in the 1880s, and originally belonged to Captain Frame, who was killed at the battle of Kandahar in 1880. Pat then became the property of another officer of the 72nd who served in India (1881), Aden and Egypt.
Pat was frequently under fire and shared in the march to Kandahar. He now rests with the remains of other Regimental pets on the summit of the little cliff immediately beneath Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castle.

Image No. 2 – Elephant Battery
The 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders served alongside these guns between 1889 and 1893 in Afghanistan. This image shows the most extraordinary use of elephants – one can imagine the guns being ‘galloped’ into action!

Not to blow our own trumpet but ...

Until the end of the month we will be focusing on our Picture Store, which is ably managed by our Picture Crew, Peter McLoughlin, Alasdair Rodgers and Michelle Mitchell. Peter, Alasdair and Michelle have volunteered with us for many years and have picked out a number of photographs and pictures that are their favourites within our collection.
Image No. 1 - 1908 Tienstin, China, 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
This is a photograph of Peter’s Grandfather, Arthur ...Patrick McLoughlin, who was a shipping agent for coal based in Northern China. Standing on the left behind the table with the trophy, he is pictured with a Russian officer and a Cameron officer presenting a Football Trophy. It is remarkable that Peter’s grandfather (who was non-military) should get involved with the military forces based in Tienstin at that time and doubly so that Peter should come across his photograph among the collection here.
Arthur McLoughlin was married in 1908 in Tienstin, and worked out of the Chinese Coal mine at Tongstian, about 10 miles from Tienstin, where Peter’s father, Arthur Cecil McLoughlin, was born in 1911.
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On this, the last day of #MuseumWeek we thought we would focus on our 'Friends of the Museum' scheme.
Did you know that for £10 a year you can become a friend of the museum and receive a whole raft of benefits? including; * free access to the Fort * advance notice of events at the fort... * e-newsletters * discounts in our shop Other types of membership are available including a joint membership, a family membership and a lifetime membership.
If you are interested in becoming a friend of the museum, please contact our Business Manager via email: busmanager@thehighlandersmuseum.com
By becoming a friend of the museum you are helping to sustain the vital work we undertake to maintain and conserve our truly wonderful collection. We rely solely on the very kind donations from our visitors. If you would like to know more about how to donate to the mueum please check out our new website at https://www.thehighlandersmuseum.com/?pag e_id=25577
#FriendsMW #MuseumWeek #ProtectingOurHeritage
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Gertie the seagull has heard about the fascinating displays at the Highlanders' Museum! She's a 'friend of the museum' and comes back to visit every year #museumweek #friendsofthemuseum #museumfriends

To celebrate International Museum Day - ICOM we are sharing some images from our current Letters Exhibition. Cards, Letters and postcards bring great joy and comfort both to soldiers and families back home. #InternationalMuseumsDay and #MuseumWeek.

Today’s Museum Week theme is exploration. We enjoyed looking through our collections to bring you a slightly unusual object. This compass, which is small enough to be set in a ring, belonged to Lieutenant Blair of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. Lieutenant Blair served during the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross.
Why not come and do some exploring of your own around the Highlanders’ Museum and Fort George this weekend?
#MuseumWeek #ExploreMW

Today we are thinking about how Museums Spark Joy! ✨
How do Museums Spark Joy for you?
#MuseumWeek #MuseumsSparkJoy

We are rather proud and excited to announce we have been nominated in the Family Venue category of the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2019, and we are now FINALISTS!
Thank you for your nominations and support. Such fantastic news for us during this week which is #museumweek
#HospitalityAwards #FamilyFriendly #MuseumsSparkJoy #MuseumsAreFun #Nominated #Finalist

It’s day three of Museum Week and the theme is ‘Play’. After the pipes and drums of the 3 Scots playing at the Fort yesterday we are feeling musical! If you missed it - why not take a look at the video we shared on our page.
This picture from our archives, taken in the 1860’s shows a Bandsman, Drum Major, and Piper from the 78th Highlanders. Pipers and Pipe Bands have been a key part of Highland regiments for hundreds of years, used to signal instructions to troops and to boost morale.
#PlayMW #MuseumWeek

Visitors today are not only being treated to amazing weather and stunning views, but also the pipes and drums of 3 Scots playing within Fort George. The importance of music to the Highland Regiments can be found within the Museum.